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Summer is one of the most demanding seasons for the sport horse. High temperatures, increased sweating, long journeys and an often intense competition schedule place a heavy strain on the equine athlete’s metabolism.
During this period, it is not uncommon to see horses that are more fatigued, less willing to work or with longer recovery times after training and competitions.
But how can energy and performance be supported during the summer season?
The answer does not simply lie in increasing the amount of feed given. Today, equine sports nutrition is based on a more advanced approach that considers energy, hydration, muscle recovery and metabolic support as closely interlinked elements.
Does the heat increase a horse’s energy requirements?
During exercise, a horse produces a considerable amount of heat, which must be dissipated through sweating.
In the summer months, this mechanism becomes even more important and results in a significant loss of water and electrolytes.
At the same time, the horse must continue to sustain the muscular effort required by training and competitions, often in less favourable environmental conditions.
For this reason, maintaining a proper energy and metabolic balance is one of the fundamental aspects of managing the competition horse during the summer.
Smart energy sources: why oils can make a difference
When thinking about energy for the sport horse, cereals and basic feeds are often the first solution that springs to mind. However, there are alternative energy sources that are particularly beneficial for horses undergoing intense training.
Vegetable oils, in fact, provide a significantly higher energy content than traditional feeds and allow the energy density of the ration to be increased without excessively increasing its volume, and consequently the gastrointestinal load and the metabolic effort required for their digestion.
In endurance disciplines such as eventing, endurance riding, or for horses undergoing frequent and prolonged training, supplementation with specific products such as Oil Performance can be a valid nutritional strategy.
Thanks to the presence of selected vegetable oils, Oil Performance helps to increase the energy content of the diet and supports horses requiring greater nutritional support during periods of intense sporting activity.
Energy also means metabolic efficiency
To properly convert the energy obtained from its diet, a horse requires vitamins and trace elements involved in metabolic processes.
During the competitive season, the need for these micronutrients may increase, particularly in horses engaged in intense and continuous activity.
In such cases, it may be useful to supplement the diet with specific products such as Megavit, which provides vitamins and trace elements in chelated form, characterised by high bioavailability. Its formulation is designed to support normal energy metabolism and support the horse during periods of increased athletic exertion.
An adequate intake of micronutrients helps maintain the animal’s vitality, willingness to work and general well-being.
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Recovery is part of performance
When we talk about energy, we often focus exclusively on the moment of the competition or training session.
Actually , the ability to recover quickly after exertion is one of the factors that most significantly influences consistent sporting performance.
Frequent training sessions, multi-day competitions or particularly demanding disciplines require targeted nutritional support.
For this reason, many riders choose to include products such as Aminospeed in their horse’s management regime.
This product, manufactured by Equiplanet, contains branched-chain amino acids, betaine and vitamin B12.
Its formulation is designed to support energy metabolism and support the horse during periods of intense muscular exertion, helping to maintain normal athletic performance.
Hydration: the real key to summer performance
No energy strategy can be effective if the horse is not properly hydrated.
Through sweating, the horse loses not only fluids but also important electrolytes such as sodium, chloride and potassium, which are essential for the body to function properly.
When these losses are not adequately compensated for, the horse may show a reduced willingness to work and a diminished ability to recover.
For this reason, electrolyte supplementation is a fundamental tool in the management of the sport horse during the summer.
Next-generation rehydration drinks: more than just electrolytes
In recent years, the concept of rehydration has evolved considerably, which is why at Equiplanet we have created Reidral CY, which does not merely provide electrolytes, but incorporates functional ingredients such as prebiotics (inulin), glycine, betaine, vitamin C and lactic acid buffers.
This combination helps to simultaneously support various aspects of the competitive horse’s physiology: fluid balance, replenishment of electrolytes lost through sweating, and nutritional support during periods of intense physical exertion.
A particularly useful solution during competitions, intense training sessions and summer travel.
Electrolyte support for the most demanding days
In horses that sweat profusely or face long periods of physical activity, it may be useful to supplement their diet with specific electrolyte supplements.
Products such as Master Lyte, which provides sodium, chloride, potassium and magnesium – essential minerals involved in electrolyte balance and muscle function.
Supplementing with these can be particularly beneficial during the summer season, periods of intense training, and during competitions or long journeys.
A horse’s energy levels during the summer are the result of a number of factors: diet, hydration, muscle recovery and metabolic support.
A comprehensive nutritional management plan helps support the competition horse during the warmer months, maintaining its wellbeing and enabling it to tackle training and competitions with greater consistency.
Because true performance stems not only from athletic preparation, but also from the ability to provide the body with everything it needs to fulfil its potential.
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